Ultra Awarded £35m Contract for A400M Active Noise Control System

Ultra announces that its Controls business, based in Greenford, Middlesex and in Cambridge, has been awarded a contract worth in excess of £35m to supply its active noise and vibration control system for the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft.

Ultra's innovative Tuned Vibration Absorber System (TVAS) will substantially reduce the noise in the cargo bay area of the A400M and will protect troops carried in the aircraft from the noise of the powerful propellers. The TVAS will control active vibration absorbers attached to the fuselage. These active vibration absorbers will provide a local reduction of the vibration of the fuselage at the point where they are attached. In addition, a central electronic controller will co-ordinate the operation of all of the devices to reduce the propeller noise penetrating into the cargo bay area. The system will be based upon active and semi-active technology which Ultra has developed over more than 20 years and is in operational service on more than 800 turboprop aircraft.

Airbus Military's order book currently stands at 192 A400M turboprop transport aircraft, including 180 for the seven European launch nations. The programme, formally launched in May 2003, will lead to a first flight in 2008 and to first deliveries in 2009. The A400M will play an essential role in enhancing Europe's airlift capabilities, enabling common support, training and operational procedures and providing greater interoperability in multi-national humanitarian and peace-keeping missions. South Africa and Malaysia have joined the A400M programme, ordering 12 aircraft, and it is expected that other air forces around the world will choose the A400M to replace their aging fleets of military airlifters.

Douglas Caster, Chief Executive of Ultra, commented:
'We are delighted to be part of the Airbus A400M team. This noise and vibration control system contract broadens Ultra's scope of supply to Airbus and demonstrates our commitment to providing innovative, cost-effective solutions. With this award Ultra has reinforced its position as the world-leading supplier of noise and vibration management systems to the international aircraft industry. I am confident that Ultra, working with Airbus, will deliver a highly effective system that meets the low noise levels expected by the A400M customers.'